Texas company faces violations in worker's heat-related death

OSHA says company failed to train workers on heat illness

A Texas-based company is facing violations after one of its workers died from extreme heat while doing construction work on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.

Officials of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Symmetry Turf Installations LLC with two serious safety violations after they said the company failed to protect employees working in excessive heat.

“This tragedy underscores the need for employers to take proactive steps to keep workers safe in extreme heat,” said John Hermanson, OSHA’s regional administrator in Dallas. “If this employer had provided water, rest and shade, and had been familiar with the symptoms of heat stroke, this unfortunate incident could have been avoided.”

Authorities said a forklift operator for the company died of complications from heat stroke while resurfacing the football practice field at the University of Arkansas campus in June.

Following an inspection, officials said OSHA’s Little Rock-area office cited the Texas-based company under the agency’s general duty clause, saying that it has failed to train workers to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat illness as well as on precautions to take when employees are working under such conditions.

Officials said the proposed fines total $5,040 and the company, which employs about 14 workers, has 15 days to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director in Little Rock or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

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